Progesterone Support - When did you stop the pessaries ?

Was wondering if any of you ladies could help me.

I am currently on progesterone support for this pregnancy, OB wants me to stop taking by 12 weeks. I did advise him that I only had enough to get me to 11 weeks as IVF clinic gave me the script for the progesterone pessaries due to low progesterone levels and PCOS.
IVF clinic dates were wrong compared to present Ultrasound dates and now I am short by a week for the progesterone pessaries.
I have been reading some clinics have you on support till 14 weeks.


Would like to know when did you stop talking progesterone support ?
Did you go cold turkey ? Or did you slowly wean yourself off them ?

Thanking you in advance for any information.

Have a lovely day today :)

Hi,

I'm on progesterone support at the moment due to my blood test showing low levels. Initially my IVF clinic told me I would need to be on them for 10 weeks from the positive blood test (14 weeks of pregnancy). When I went back for a follow up blood test this week I was told that I had misunderstood and I only need to be on them until 10 weeks of pregnancy (so only 6 weeks from the blood test - only 5 weeks to go now).

When I go off them I'm not sure if they will wean me off - which would make sense as I am on twice daily pressaries but also once a day progesterone injections (so a very high dose).

Sorry I can't give you a more definate answer. Maybe contact the IVF clinic to discuss it with them.

Lori

JOM: Congrats on your pregnancy. With both my successful pregnancies my clinic (same as Dreamrise) had me take progesterone support up until I was 10 weeks pregnant and then stop them completely. By week 10 of pregnancy your placenta is established enough to take over producing the progesterone needed to help support your pregnancy.

It will seem scary when you have to go cold turkey, but I have a 14 mth old DD and 2 very healthy little boys growing in my tummy at the moment so hopefully that will give you some reassurance.

I can't remember exactly, but I think I started weaning off them by 10 weeks, and finished a week or two later. I think it should be fine. I don't think you should go cold turkey, no. How many are you taking?
When you say your clinic dates were wrong, do you mean the scan gave you a later due date compared to your cycle dates?

Oh, and I forgot to say congratulations!

I weaned from about 11 weeks but I was on very high doses. If you are concerned then I would wean rather than go cold turkey even if it is just for your peace of mind. Are they going to monitor your P4 levels until 10 weeks? Perhaps ask if you can have a test just before you wean and then another couple to check your levels are still in the normal range. I know how stressful that time could be and if these tests can be done to reduce your risk of ante natal depression or anxiety it would be worth it. I was so worried but my body did just take over and I had an uneventful natural pregnancy from then on.

Hi Ladies,

Thank you for your well wishes on this pregnancy and for answering my questions.

Secondly sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
I had another fresh bleed over New Years and Doctors orders was bed rest till Wednesday. I have a subchorionic Haematoma which is causing problems.

I worked out why I am 7 days short of pessaries, I went through all my invoice and when the clinic wrote out my first script it was only for 20 days not 28 days.
Since having the second bleed I have spoken to the clinic and they have agreed to give me a script to cover me till 13 weeks.

I am currently on 2 x 200mg a day.

With regards to “clinic dates were wrong, do you mean the scan gave you a later due date compared to your cycle dates?”
When I went for the 6 week 5 days ultrasound, the lady that did the ultrasound said the baby was only 5 weeks 6 days. The clinic said that it could go either way, the baby would catch up or I will miscarry.
Then on the other hand she said that some embyro’s don’t implant straight away and they can float around for another week before implantation.

OB sent me for a ultrasound 2 weeks later and the baby was only 3 days behind so they changed my due date.

Thanks again ladies for all your help

Have a lovely week. :)

sorry to hear about the bleeding, but glad to hear you've got the pessaries sorted.
My early scan was also 6 days behinf but noone ever suggested it was a problem.

best of luck to you and hope things go smoothly from here.

Hi everyone

I just noticed this thread. Justonemore, congrtulations am glad to see your ticker and that everything is ok.

I'm 10.5 weeks at the moment and just starting to wean off progesterone (I have only been taking 1 for the past week or so). But this morning I woke up to a fair amount of browny-red blood on my toilet paper (maybe a small handful, sorry thats so yukky). My FS said I could go off them by now but I've been using up my last packet.

Did anyone else have any bleeding or spotting? Just wish my clinic was open today so I could ring the nurse and ask!!!!

Hey Aimee

I was on progesterone until about eleven weeks, then went one every second day for a few days then stopped. I was really worried I would spot, esecially as it was over the new years break but fortunately it was fine.

I have heard many times over that ten weeks is ok to come off them. My clinic says 12 weeks as stopping before 12 weeks can sometimes cause spotting, but I didn't get the impression it was dangerous if you know what I mean.

Hang in there til tomorrow darl and let us know how you go
xx

hi Aimee,

I'm currently on Progesterone pressaries twice a day and injections once a day. 10 weeks on Monday and was told I could stop then. Won't have any left to be able to wean myself anyway. Will use the last one Monday night. I was told that by 10 weeks the placenta produces the required progesterone anyway so the mother doesn't need to worry about it?!

If your bleeding was more of a browny red rather than a bright red than I have been told that is old blood so nothing to worry about. I have had browny red spotting (light) for most of my pregnancy until the last 3 or 4 days when it finally stopped.

When I had my threatened miscarriage I had lots of bright red blood (in total about 2 measuring cups full). The doctors at the emergency department told me I had definately lost the baby as it wouldnt' survive so much blood loss... but it has survived. So now a little bit of browny blood doesn't bother me at all!

I'm sure you'll be fine but maybe just ring the clinic tomorrow morning to confirm. If you get bright red bleeding then I'd go to emergency - not that they'll do anything anyway though.

Lori
DD - 14
9w6d pregnant with number 2 - 4 years in the making!

Thankyou Bug's mum, I must sound so paranoid, I rang my OB who was on duty this weekend - phew! and he said he was more than happy to give me a scan today or tomorrow but I always feel like I'm bothering them over nothing. I never know which hospital to ring because my private one technically doesn't take patients until they are over 14 weeks.

I might be confused (happens alot) but did you get a fetal heart monitor? I know that someone in the pregnancy after LTTTC thread did but I can't remember and I was wondering how well it worked and whether it was worth getting one.

Am hoping its only some more old blood........will try to keep busy and not think about it.

xoxo

Hi Lori

I must have posted at the same time as you. Thanks for the reassurance. You had quite an ordeal but glad everything is ok now.

Mentally I keep telling myself I've had spotting in my previous pregnancies (and with two DD's I feel terribly guilty about complaining at all) but 3 or 4 complicated miscarriages in 13 months (May 2009 - June 2010) has greatly increased my paranoia!

Thanks again though xoxox

This whole progesterone thing makes me nervous!!! I have a history of low progesterone which is probably linked to my endometriosis. My 1st IVF Dr never prescribed me the pessaries regardless of my lower than average blood results. So now I'm at a different IVF Dr who is monitoring my levels throughout this pregnancy. They have dropped from 71 to 39. He has me on one pessary every 2nd day which he says is enough??? I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant. Not sure why I can't get these doctors to pay more attention. In fact they almost didn't put transfer this FET as my lining was so thin - from LOW PROGESTERONE!!!

After reading all your posts above I see there are Dr's out there who will put you on 2 a day and even injections!!! I asked my current Dr about the injections at the beginning of this one and he said "it's big in the States but hasn't caught on over here yet. The pessaries do the job." Um, really? I've miscarried 2 IVF babies with low progesterone. I hope to god I don't have to lose another one!!! So frustrating at times.

Thanks for sharing your info. I have another scan on Wed this week and intend to raise the topic with my Dr again.

Can low progesterone at the beginning contribute to disabilities or underdevelopment? Does anyone know? It's definitely playing on my mind (as you can tell :))